Camp Gen. Artemio Ricarte, Puerto Princesa City – Nineteen more personnel from the Naval Forces West and Coast Guard District Palawan were added to the pool of park rangers for the Tubbataha Reefs after the three-day 13th Comprehensive Training for Marine Park Rangers (MPR) on Oct. 10 to 12 at the Naval Station Apolinario Jalandoon in Barangay San Miguel.

According to Commodore Joseph Rustom O. Pena, commander of the Naval Forces West, the training was designed to equip law enforcement personnel for future assignment to Tubbataha with better understanding of their role in marine conservation, particularly as they comprise the first line of authority in the Tubbataha Reefs.

“Clarifying and giving value to the role of marine park rangers has increased the appreciation on the critical role they play in the conservation of the Tubbataha Reefs,” Pena said. Park Superintendent Angelique Songco, for their part, said that this year, students from the Western Philippine University participated in the training as observers.

“Their participation was aimed at providing the youth with better understanding of the importance of Tubbataha and its role in providing food security for Filipinos. It is also hoped that through their participation they will be inspired to pursue a profession in marine conservation in the future,” she said.

Logistics support from the Naval Forces West and financial support from the Coral Triangle Support Partnership through the World Wildlife Fund for Nature enabled the conduct of this annual training, Songco said. ––END